I was invited by Martyn Mills to participate in a tasting of the brand new handcrafted pink Gem Gin, designed to appeal to women in particular, being feminine and elegant in its brand personality. The Tasting was hosted at Distillers & Union in Woodstock. It was a form of market research in which I have not previously participated. Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* Shocking news is that acting CEO of SAA Nico Bezuidenhout has been moved back to head up Mango with immediate effect. No explanation for his sudden move has been made, and no announcement as to his successor made. The move may link to the media report which stated that Bezuidenhout had revealed that a deal with Emirates had been stopped in the 11th hour by a high-ranking Parliamentary official. Officially, the move is linked to a Bezuidenhout having completed his 90-day turnaround plan for the airline.
* Asian hospitality group Dusit International has signed an agreement with local eLan Property Group to manager two South African, two Mozambique, and one Mauritius property. What is interesting is that the agreement Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The first World Congress of Nephrology finishes at the Cape Town International Convention Centre today, the first time that the Congress is held in Africa. A total of 3000 kidney specialists have attended the Congress since Friday, reports The New Age. Later this year the World Congress of the International Federation of Aesthetic Dentistry and the 46th Union World Conference on Lung Health will be held in Cape Town.
* Cape Town is the focus in an UK article entitled ‘Paradise found in South African city‘, suggestions given for what to do and see in a week in ‘one of the most vibrant cities in the world‘, including Table Mountain; V&A Waterfront; Cape Quarter; the Codfather in Camps Bay; Africa Café and Mama Africa; afternoon tea at the Mount Nelson, Cape Grace, and Table Bay hotels; Steenberg in the ‘Constancia Valley‘ (sic); the Old Biscuit Mill; Kirstenbosch; Shimmy Beach Club; and a helicopter trip over the city.
* Described as a ‘hunting haven‘ may not be good for our country’s image! The big-game hunting industry Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine new headlines
* KWV has launched Earth’s Essence Pinotage, with the claim that it is the ‘healthiest wine in the world‘, made with Rooibos bark. No sulphur dioxide has been added in making the wine, and wooden staves made from the bark of rooibos and honeybush plants, having natural anti-oxidant properties, are used. KWV chose to use the staves in the production of Pinotage, both Rooibos and the wine varietal having an iconic South African heritage. The wine should do particularly well in the Scandinavian countries, where organic, sulphur-free or Faitrade wines are high in demand.
* The massive ‘Perceiving Freedom‘ sunglass frame artwork on the Sea Point Promenade has received heavy criticism as being opportunistic and nothing but commercial exploitation for Ray-Ban, sponsors of the installation. It is also criticised for its cost of R170000, paid for by City of Cape Town ratepayers! The City says that its Outdoor Signage by-law is not contravened, as the work carries no branding. The artwork is dedicated to the memory of the late Nelson Mandela, and faces Robben Island. It is a World Design Capital 2014 approved project.
* Sales of Prosecco are popping through the roof in the UK, almost tripling in the super-premium category, and increasing Continue reading →